Daryl Washington option-bonus delay more about cap than suspension

Posted by Mike Florio on April 4, 2013, 1:04 PM EST

AP

At first blush, it appeared that the decision to delay Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington’s $10 million option bonus from 2013 to 2014 came from his anticipated four-game suspension for violating the substance-abuse policy.

The move actually had much more to do with salary-cap management.

Per multiple sources with knowledge of the situation, the $10 million option bonus initially was due to be exercised by the last day of the 2013 league year. Under a new deal executed on March 12, it’s due on the first day of the 2014 league year.

So the delay was, in the end, one day.The one-day delay nevertheless created $2 million in 2013 cap space for the Cardinals. And it provided no additional financial protection for the Cardinals.

Under either version of the deal, Washington still needs to get through the 2013 season without having any additional violations of the substance-abuse policy to get the money.

This is why I love this guy. Here’s his statement on the whole thing…
“I was always taught that when you make a mistake, you admit it, learn from it and face whatever consequences there are,” Washington said in a statement. “I take full responsibility and I understand that I let down my teammates, the organization and fans. I apologize for that and promise that no one will work harder to make up for it.”

Not to make light of Washington’s transgression however, the alcohol-related incident Steeler’s rookie Alamada Ta’asmu was placed on probation makes a person wonder about the NFL’s substance abuse policy even more. Wonder if they are in the same program!

phreakin says:Apr 4, 2013 4:45 PM

jwilliamsspf:

As someone pointed out yesterday, i’d feel a little more warm and fuzzy about D Wash’s statement if this was his first time violating the policy but it’s not. He made a mistake, didn’t fix it, and then made it again and got suspended.

So for his:

“I was always taught that when you make a mistake, you admit it, learn from it and face whatever consequences there are”

He didn’t admit it the first time, he obviously didn’t learn from it, and since there weren’t repercussions the first time, he did it again.

theuglitruth says:Apr 4, 2013 11:27 PM

Well, he can promise to make it up to everyone all he wants…but he will always be doubted about staying clean in the future…unfortunately he’s earned that label by being a repeat offender.